Mercosur

• Friday, December 6th 2019 - 09:49 UTC

  Paraguay takes the chair of a quarrelsome strained Mercosur

  

  Brazil on Thursday handed over the six-month rotating presidency of the Mercosur trade bloc (Southern Common Market) to Paraguay. During a ceremony at the bloc's 55th summit in Bento Goncalves, Brazil's president Jair Bolsonaro expressed confidence in his Paraguayan counterpart Mario Abdo Benitez and his leadership skills.

• Thursday, December 5th 2019 - 09:55 UTC

  Trump's tariffs puts Brazil's Bolsonaro and Argentine president elect Fernandez in the same boat

  

  The South American four-nation trade bloc Mercosur began a tense meeting on Wednesday reeling from US steel and aluminium tariffs and a spat between its two biggest members. Foreign ministers of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay opened the two-day meeting in the southern Brazilian town of Bento Goncalves, paving the way for a head of state summit on Thursday.

• Tuesday, December 3rd 2019 - 09:50 UTC

  Uruguay president elect hopes pragmatism prevails over ideology in Mercosur

  

  Mercosur faces a tense future, the president-elect of Uruguay said on Monday, referring to a diplomatic spat between regional heavyweight economies Brazil and Argentina. Brazil’s right-wing leader Jair Bolsonaro and Argentina’s incoming leader, left-leaning Peronist Alberto Fernandez, have sparred openly.

• Tuesday, October 29th 2019 - 09:55 UTC

  Alberto Fernandez and Bolsonaro on collision course over Lula and Mercosur

  

  Argentine elected president Alberto Fernandez on Sunday called for ex-president Lula da Silva to be freed from prison, which most certainly puts him on a collision course with Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro.

• Monday, October 28th 2019 - 16:57 UTC

  Bolsonaro hints Argentine might need to leave Mercosur

  

  Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said late Sunday upon departing from Abu Dhabi after a two-day state visit that if the policies of Argentina's next president affect Mercosur's agreement with the European Union (EU), a solution may be to remove the southern neighbours from the bloc.

• Thursday, October 24th 2019 - 09:59 UTC

  Bolsonaro warns next Argentine government: Mercosur must continue with Macri's trade policies

  

  A possible victory of opposition candidate Alberto Fernández in Argentina's presidential election on Sunday could put the Mercosur trade bloc at risk, Brazil's right-wing president, Jair Bolsonaro, said on Wednesday.

• Wednesday, October 16th 2019 - 08:54 UTC

  Mercosur expects to conclude trade deals with Singapore and South Korea next year

  

  Mercosur aims to conclude free trade agreements Singapore and South Korea by next year, as it also eyes deals with several other Asian countries, a Brazilian diplomat said on Tuesday.

• Friday, October 11th 2019 - 09:49 UTC

  Trade Integration more important for Latin America and the Caribbean as growth slows, World Bank

  

  The Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region has entered a new phase of weak economic performance, but increased integration in international trade and global value chains could reinvigorate economic growth.

• Tuesday, October 8th 2019 - 09:56 UTC

  Uruguayan election: “a ponies race, no thoroughbreds competing”

  

  On Sunday 27 October the Uruguayan electorate will be voting for a new president (there is no immediate reelection) and a renewed Legislative, 30 Senators and 99 Lower House members. Uruguay is one of the more stable countries in the region, both it's solid institutions as well as its citizens who are deeply committed to democracy, social rights and a strong presence of government in the economy.

• Wednesday, October 2nd 2019 - 09:57 UTC

  Mercosur and South Korea fourth round of trade talks, this time in Busan

  

  South Korea’s trade ministry said on Monday it plans to hold the fourth round of trade talks with Mercosur as Seoul aims to expand its trade network with emerging countries and revitalize its ailing exports.